Jet-propelled wheeled vehicle



April 1, E952 v. s. REES 2,5913 76 JET-PROPELLED WHEELED VEHICLE Filed May 1'0, 1949 INVENTOR U. 5. Rees BY Wi/ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J ET-PROPELLED WHEELED'VEHIGLE Vivian Spencer Rees, North Sacramento, Calif.

Application May 10, 1949, Serial No. 92,325

1 Claim. 1

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a toy vehicle having a novel propulsion arrangement including a balloon adapted to be inflated and a rearwardly projecting air discharge tube; the reaction from the jet of air escaping through such tube accomplishing rapid forward motion of the toy vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide the toy vehicle with a novel frame for suspension of the balloon and mounting of the air discharge tube to which the balloon is connected.

An additional object is to provide a toy vehicle which has a minimum of resistance to rolling on a floor whereby the propulsion arrangement functions most effectively to move the toy vehicle forwardly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle which affords great amusement to children; the toy being constructed so that it is not subject to easy breakage, and the balloon being replaceable if it bursts.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a toy vehicle designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical toy, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the toy vehicle with the balloon inflated for operation of said vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the toy vehicle with the balloon deflated.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the toy vehicle comprises an elongated skeleton frame, indicated generally at I; such frame being of very light Weight construction and formed of Wire. This wire is preferably of spring steel or piano wire type and of relatively small gauge.

The elongated skeleton frame 1 includes transversely spaced, longitudinal side members 2 connected together adjacent but short of the ends of the frame by axles 3. The axles 3 are likewise of relatively small gauge spring steel wire.

At the ends thereof the axles 3 are supported by thin disc wheels 4 preferably of a light weight plastic; such wheels being peripherally chamfered, as at 5, to minimize floor engagement and reduce running friction. Additionally, the wheels 4 are very free turning on the axles 3.

Lengthwise beyond the axles 3, the frame 1 includes, as end extensions, upwardly curved half bows 6; said half-bows being formed by the ex tended end portions of the side members 2 which converge upwardly in an outward direction to a merger at their upper ends. As these half-bows are of spring steel wire they are resilient lengthwise of the toy vehicle; the front half-bow 6 providing a bumper.

At the upper end of the rear half-bow 6 the same is fitted with a mounting eye 1, whose axis is lengthwise of the direction of travel, and an air discharge tube 8 projects through said eye in fixed relation thereto.

Above the main portion of the frame I the vehicle includes a longitudinal balloon 9 having a neck 10 coupled in air-tight relation to the forward end of the air discharge tube 8. Opposite the neck IE, the balloon is connected, as at H, to an elastic cord [2 which extends forwardly to connection with a top loop l3 on the upper end of the front half bow 6.

Initially the balloon 9 is deflated, and to use the toy the tube 8 is placed in the mouth and the balloon 9 is inflated. See Fig. 1. After the balloon is inflated a finger is placed over the air discharge tube 8 to prevent escape of the air while the toy vehicle is being placed in position on the fioor for a run.

Thereafter, the finger is removed from the tube 8, and immediately air discharges therefrom with considerable velocity, and the resultant reaction causes the toy vehicle to run relatively fast, much to the amusement of the child playing with the toy.

As will be clear from Fig. 2, the elastic cord [2 is stretched when the balloon is deflated, and thus holding the latter outstretched and preventing the same from dragging on the floor when in its otherwise limp condition.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

A toy vehicle comprising an elongated balloon having a jet tube projecting from one end thereof, and a 'su'piiort for the balloon comprising a longitudinal skeleton frame of small gauge re silient wire and including spaced side members which at the ends of the frame extend upwardly in curved and laterally converging relation with each other to form upstanding end members connected at the top, axles connecting the side members and extending laterally out therefrom, and relatively wide-spread narrow-tread wheels on the axles; the jet tube being secured to one end member at the top and there being means flexibly connecting the balloon at its other end to the other end member at the top thereof.

VIVIAN SPENCER REES.

REFERENCES crrmi The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date a 1,412,381 Williams Apr. 11, 1933 1,787,034 Burns Dec. 30, 1930 2,384,193 Platt Sept. 4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 93,155 Austria June 25, 1923 

